The Jaguars will be without their leader in receptions against the Colts in Sunday’s battle for the top of the AFC South.
Wide receiver Parker Washington is inactive for the game. Washington, who leads the team with 36 catches this season, was listed as questionable to play with a hip injury.
There’s better news for Jacksonville on the other side of the ball. Defensive linemen Arik Armstead (hand) and Travon Walker (back) are both active after joining Washington with questionable tags.
Colts at Jaguars
Colts: CB Sauce Gardner, RB DJ Giddens, DE Tyquan Lewis, S Reuben Lowery, TE Will Mallory, S George Odum, T Luke Tenuta
Jaguars: WR Parker Washington, S Andrew Wingard, LB Yasir Abdullah, OL Walker Little, TE Johnny Mundt, DL Emmanuel Ogbah, DL Austin Johnson.
Dolphins at Jets
Dolphins: QB Quinn Evers, WR Tahj Washington, T Kendall Lamm, DT Matthew Butler, LB Andre Carter, CB A.J. Green
Jets: QB Justin Fields, WR Tyler Johnson, S Tony Adams, CB Ja’Sir Taylor, EDGE Braiden McGregor, DT Mazi Smith, TE Jelani Woods
Steelers at Ravens
Steelers: WR Roman Wilson, DT Derrick Harmon, S Kyle Dugger, T Calvin Anderson, DT Brodric Martin, WR Ke’Shawn Williams, QB Will Howard
Ravens: WR Devontez Walker, DT Aeneas Peebles, G Ben Cleveland, T Joseph Noteboom, QB Cooper Rush
Saints at Buccaneers
Saints: S Justin Reid, CB Rejzohn Wright, RB Alvin Kamara, T Taliese Fuaga, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, DT John Ridgeway, DT Khristian Boyd
Buccaneers: QB Connor Bazelak, G Elijah Klein, S Kaevon Merriweather, CB Benjamin Morrison, DL Elijah Simmons, T Tristan Wirfs
Titans at Browns
Titans: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis, S Jerrick Reed, OL Drew Moss, C Lloyd Cushenberry, DT Shy Tuttle
Browns: G Wyatt Teller, DT Adin Huntington, T Jack Conklin, TE Brenden Bates, RB Raheim Sanders, WR Jamari Thrash
Commanders at Vikings
Commanders: QB Josh Johnson, LB Ale Kaho, T Trent Scott, DE Jalyn Holmes, T George Fant, DE Drake Jackson
Vikings: QB John Wolford, S Theo Jackson, DL Levi Drake Rodriguez, G Joe Huber, T Walter Rouse, TE Ben Yurosek, DL Elijah Williams
Seahawks at Falcons
Seahawks: QB Jalen Milroe, CB Shaquill Griffin, RB Cam Akers, LB Jared Ivey, LB Connor O’Toole, OL Mason Richman
Falcons: WR Drake London, CB Cobee Bryant, RB Nathan Carter, DL Brandon Dorlus, OL Michael Jerrell, WR Casey Washington
Bengals at Bills
Bengals: QB Jake Browning, WR Jermaine Burton, TE Cam Grandy, DE Trey Hendrickson, DT Jordan Jefferson
Bills: T Spencer Brown, WR Josh Palmer, LB Terrel Bernard, DE Joey Bosa, DB Darnell Savage, DT Phidarian Mathis, OL Chase Lundt
The Colts ripped through the first eight games of the season, winning seven times. A 1-3 slide since then has raised a troubling question.
Could they miss the playoffs?
Indeed they could. Now 8-4 and tied with the Jaguars atop the AFC South, the Colts could easily lose both the division title and one of the three-wild card spots.
And the stretch run is a gauntlet. After Sunday’s visit to Jacksonville, where Indy hasn’t won since 2014, the Colts finish with the Seahawks, 49ers, Jaguars, and Texans.
Via NBC Sports research, the Colts could be the sixth team since the AFL-NFL merger to start 7-1 or better and miss the playoffs. The others were the 2012 Bears, Washington in 1996, the 1988 Saints, the 1987 Chargers, and the 1975 Dolphins.
The Colts would be the first team to start 7-1 or better and fall out of playoff contention with seven spots available in each conference.
One issue has been the performance of quarterback Daniel Jones away from Indianapolis. At home, he’s 5-1 with 15 total touchdowns and one turnover. One the road, the Colts are 3-3 — and Jones has nine total touchdowns and nine turnovers.
Then there’s the fracture in Jones’s leg. It made him one-dimensional against the Texans in Indianapolis last week, in a game that the Colts nevertheless could have won.
On Sunday, weather will be an issue. But that will be true for both teams. Whatever the elements, the Colts need to find a way to win in a place where they haven’t in 11 years.
If they don’t, a season of apparent resurgence could end like every other season since 2021 — without a playoff appearance.
Safety Eric Murray is back on the active roster in Jacksonville.
The Jaguars announced that they have activated Murray from injured reserve on Sunday. Murray has missed the last five games due to a neck injury.
Murray started the first seven games of the season. He had 33 tackles, one interception, four passes defensed, and a quarterback hit in those appearances.
Running back Cody Schrader was waived to make room for Murray on the active roster.
The Jags also announced that they have elevated defensive back Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig and wide receiver Austin Trammell from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Colts.
The Colts announced a handful of roster moves ahead of Sunday’s game against the Jaguars.
They have activated linebacker Jaylon Carlies from injured reserve, and they have also elevated kicker Blake Grupe and defensive tackle Chris Wormley to the active roster from the practice squad.
Carlies has been on injured reserve all season due to an ankle injury he suffered late in training camp. The 2024 fifth-round pick had 36 tackles, a sack and a pass defensed while starting six of the 10 games he played as a rookie.
Grupe will replace Michael Badgley, who was released after last Sunday’s loss to the Texans. Grupe kicked for the Saints in their first 11 games, but was bounced off their roster after missing two field goals in a loss to the Falcons.
Wormley gives the team more depth after they ruled Tyquan Lewis out with an ankle injury on Saturday.
Rain and lightning are in the forecast for Jacksonville on Sunday with the Colts in town to play the Jaguars.
The AccuWeather forecast for Sunday afternoon in Jacksonville says, “Periods of rain, some heavy, and a thunderstorm; a rain jacket may be needed for the football game.”
Although NFL games are played through rain, a thunderstorm could cause a delay. NFL policies are to delay any outdoor game when lightning is spotted in the vicinity of the stadium, and keep both teams in the locker room until lightning has cleared the area.
Heavy rain would also affect the passing and kicking games, and could cause particular trouble for the Colts’ kicking game, as Blake Grupe was just elevated from the practice squad today to serve as the Colts’ kicker for the first time this season.
